When playing a casual round of golf with friends, what keeps you out there on the course? Golf is a social sport, but with deeply rooted traditions and rules. Why do we play golf? What are some reasons to get started in the game if you’ve never even held a club? Here are a few of my own reasons, as cliché as some may be.
The most popular reasons we play golf:
1. Golf relieves stress. According to a study from the University of Maryland, playing a round of golf may help protect people against anxiety and stress. It offers important feel-good factors, such as an active social life and regular physical activity of the best kind. Best of all, you’re surrounded by nature, what we call” ‘green exercise’ outside in nature,” according to Miriam Akhtar.
2. Golf is exercise. Have you ever tracked how many steps you take in one course? You burn a lot of calories during a game; especially accounting for those hot days in Florida or Arizona.
3. Golf follows you throughout your life. Whether as a youngster putting mini-golf with your family on vacation, or playing everyday once you retire, golf marks important milestones in your life.
4. Golf allows for competition. Gone are the days of pickup basketball and football games. At a certain point, you’re body just starts to lose steam. i.e., Friday Best Ball allows four players of different skill levels to do battle with several other teams. One shot can help the team win. Every skill level can contribute.
5. Golf equalizes the playing field.Golf permits all players, regardless of talent and ability, to learn and compete. However, the equality gap still needs to addressed between male and female pro players.
6. Golf builds and reveals character. At work and family, you risk losing your temper amongst important coworkers, your spouse, and children. In golf, the ball and the elements are your enemy. Golf shows you how you act in frustrating situations and how your emotions and attitudes may influence choices outside of the game. When you play with your children and they loose their temper after a bad shot, you discipline them and make sure they understand why behaving that way is not beneficial. Golf has rules to force you to self-govern your impending actions. Character is thus revealed. For example, when you realize you may have played the wrong ball, you have to call your own foul and accept the outcome of the penalty even if it sets you back.
GolfDigest has some great tips for beginners just learning about the sport. Follow @Eric_Vorm for the latest updates.
